Portable outlet receptacle



Octa 18, 1932. J, FERRIS 1,882,791

PORTABLE OUTLET REGEPTACLE Filed Aug. 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 18,193 2. 7 w, FERR|$ 1,882,791

PORTABLE OUTLET RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 22L, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Smoentor,

' Gttorneg Patented Get. 18, 1932 users STATES PATENT OFFECE WILLARD.B'QFEBRIS, OF JACKSON, HICHIGAH, ABS IGNOB, BY KESN'E ASSIGNMEW, TOCUTLER-HAMMER, INCH, A CORPORATION 01* DELAWARE IPOBTABLE OUTLETBECEFI'AGLE Application fled August 21, 1928. Eerie! Ho. 301,081.

The invention relates to a. portable outlet receptacle.

The object ofthe present invention is to improve the construction ofportable outlet receptacles and to provide a simple, practical, and moreuseful portable outlet receptacle, which will be of rugged, strong, anddurable construction and capable of being easily and cheaplymanufactured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable outletreceptacle of this character having a. handle equipped at its outer endwith an axial lamp socket andwith lateral current taps and capable ofafiordin the necessary light and of enabling electrical appliances, suchas an electric drill, to

. be readily connected, so as to render unnecessary the common practiceof removing the lamp from they socket of an extension cord and using thesocket for the connection oi an electric drill or other device with thefeed lines which supply the current.

The portable outlet receptacle is particularly adapte for use inconnection with elecric drills. Electric drills are generally furnishedwith an eight or ten foot cord. On most repair work where a drill isused, an extension light is necessary. Extension lights are generallymade up of a forty or fifty foot cord which will reach to the outletprovided for them. The drill is another problem, and it is usuallynecessary to remove the nearest lamp and use the socket for an outlet.

lhis inconvenient method of connecting the electric drill with theoutlet may safely be estimated as requiring the consumption of at leastfifteen minutes of the workmans time, with the possibility of the plugbeing pulled out before the job is completed, rendering it necessary forthe workman to climb back and replace the plug. In many cases the lampremoved never finds its way back to the socket. If a working light isunnecessary and a portable socket is used,it is neces sary to remove theguard and the bulb in order to attach the tool. It is often necessary todo work requiring light and a small tool in an unwired building or thelike. This generally requires several extensions or temporary wirings.It is an object of the present invention to obviate the foregoin difli--The device is also adapted to afiord the I utmost electrical protectionand safety to the user, and it is constructed of wateracid-, andheat-resisting material, and being waterproof is more shock-proof thanordinary wooden handles. 1

Another object of the invention is to eliminate entirely the use ofporcelain and to avoid any direct electrical connections with the handleby providin a lamp socket and current tap assembly which may be placedin the portable outlet receptacle as a unit.

A further object of the invention is to equip the portable outletreceptacle with snubbing means to relieve the terminals of the feedwires of strain and to provide means for compensating for difierentsized wires so that a tight connection will be afforded at the inner endof the handle to render the device entirely waterproof at that point.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth inthe claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes inthe form, proportion, and minor details of construction, within thescope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable outlet receptacle constructedin accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view, one of the sections of the portable outletreceptacle being removed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the sections of the ortable outletreceptacle showing the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the portable outlet receptacle. i

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the lateral currentoutlets.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the lamp socket andcurrent tap contacts assembly.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the headmember of the assembly.

Fi 8 is a detail sectional View illustrating t e construction of thelamp socket and current tap contacts assembly.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention, the portable outlet receptacle comprises inits construction a hollow handle l'divided longitudinally into twosimilar sections 2 and designed to be molded of bakelite or othersuitable insulating material and provided at the outer end with anaxially arranged cylindrical lamp socket 3 and provided at oppositesides with lateral current Outlets consisting of substantiallycylindrical enlargements 4 provided with spaced slots 5. The similarsections are adapted to be molded from a single mold and do not requirea separate mold for'each of the sections, and the said sections aredetachably secured together by means of transverse bolts 6 arranged inpairs in the inner and outer.-portions of the sections and havingcountersunk headsand nuts which are located below the exterior surfacesof the sections.

The portable outlet receptacle is provided in the exterior of thecylindrical lamp socket with an annular groove 7 of the proper size toreceive the ordinary lamp guard (not shown) made for the standardweather-proof or porcelain socket. The cylindrical lamp socket receivesa metal screw shell 8 of the ordinary construction, which is adapted toreceive an ordinary lamp bulb and which is provided at its inner endwith a flange or wall 9, and

the latter is secured to a head member 10 constructed of fiber or otherinsulating material. The head member consists of a disc and a squaredshank 11, the disc being received within an'interior annular groove 12of the cylindrical lamp socket, and the separable members of theportable outlet receptacle permit the head member which projectsoutwardly beyond the metallic shell 8.to be en'- gaged with the interiorannular groove 12. The end Wall 9 of the metal screw shell 8 is providedwith an opening .13 rounded at the inner end and extending inwardly fromone side of the shell, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 40f the drawings,and the head member 10 is provided at its outer face with an enlargement14 conforming to the configuration of the said opening 13 and fittingwithin the same and provided with a recess 15 for the reception of acenter contact 16.

The squared shank of the head member spaces a pair of conductor bars 17and 18, constructed of suitable metal and extending longitudinally ofthe outlet receptacle and aror other suitable fastening device. Theother conductor bar 18 has its outer end bent at right angles to form anarm 23 which is secured by a screw 24 or other suitable fastening deviceto the head member and to the end wall of the metallic shell. Thefastening device which connects the conductor bar 18 with the flange orend wall of the metallic shell 8 forms a conductor and constitutes anelectrical connection as well as a mechanical connection between the twoparts. a The conductor bars are provided attheir inner ends with bindingscrews 25 for the attachment of feed wires 26 of an extension cord 27The conductor bars have mounted on them between their ends springcontacts 28 and 29 arranged in pairs and consisting of thin strips ofresilient conducting material secured to the inner and outer faces ofthe conductor ars and arranged at right angles to the same and havingdiverging terminals forming a flaring mouth or entrance to permit knifecontacts of an ordinary plug to be inserted between them. The resilientstrip of the spring contact 29 is provided adjacent the side edges ofthe conductor bar on whichit is mounted with spring bends 30 forincreasing the resiliency of the strip. The terminals of the springcontacts 28 and 29 are slightly spaced from each other and they extendoutwardly in the slots 5 of the portable outlet receptacle and terminateshort of the outer faces of the cylindrical enlargements 4. Thecylindrical enlar ements 4 are preferably provided with marginal annularflanges 31 and have central depressions or recesses 32, and thelaterally extending current taps are adapted to receive an. ordinaryplug equipped with knife blade contacts, as will be readily understood.

The hollow handle of the portable outlet receptacle is providedintermediate of its ends with a transverse partition or wall 33, and ithas a central longitudinal partition 34 forming opposite compartments 35adapted to receive the wires 26 and maintain the same in spaced relationwithout liability of coming in contact with each other andshortcircuiting the device. The transverse partition'is providedwithside openings 36 and a central opening 37 formed by grooving andrecessing the sections of the portable outlet receptacle and providingsnubbing means for engaging the wires to prevent any strain on theextension cord being transmitted to the terminals of the wires, so thatthere will be no liability of such strain pulling the wires loose fromthe binding posts or screws.

The handle is provided at its inner end with a reduced 0 ening 38 toreceive the ex tension cord, an it has an annular groove 39 within thesaid opening 38 for the reception of a rubber rin or gasket. 40 arrangedon the extension cord and adapted to be compressed by the sections 4 ofthe portable outlet receptacle to compensate for wires of differentsizes and to form a water-tight connection at the inner end of thehandle. Gaskets having openings of different diameters may, of course,be employed, and a soft elastic gasket, when compressed around anextenslon cord, will form a water-tight joint between the handle and thecord. The rubber washer or gasket will'also prevent steel shav- 1 ings,dirt and other accumulation from entering the hollow handle.

What I claim is: 1. A portable outlet receptacle divided longitudinallyinto two sections and comprising a handle provided at its outer end witha lamp socket recess and havin lateral current taps, and a lamp socketan current tap' contacts assembly inserted in the receptacle as a unitand including a head member having a shank and interlocked with thesections, a metallic screw shell mounted on the head member, a centercontact arranged within the shell, conductor bars located at oppositesides with, a metallic screw shell mounted on the head member, a' centercontact mounted within the shell, conductor bars located at oppositesides of said shank and s aced by the latter, said bars being connecterespectively of the shank of the head member and con I nected with theshell and the center contact respectively, and spring contacts mountedon the conductor bars and associated with the lateral current taps.

2. A portable outlet receptacle divided longitudinally into two sectionsand comprising a handle provided at its outer end with a lamp socketrecess and havin lateral current taps, and a lamp socket an current tapcontacts assembly inserted in the receptacle as a unit and including ahead member having a shank and interlocked with the sections a metallicscrew shell mounted on the head member, said screw shell being providedwith an opening and the head member having a recessed enlargementextending into the opening of the shell, a center contact arranged inthe recess of the said enlargement, conductor bars located at oppositesides of the shank of the head member and connected respectively withthe metallic shell and the center contact, and spring contacts mountedon the conductor bars and associated with the lateral current taps.

3. A portable outlet receptacle divided longitudinally into two sectlonsand comprising an insulation handle provided at its outer end with alamp socket recess having an interior annu ar groove, a lamp socketcontact and wiring terminal assembly inserted in the receptacle as aunit and including a head member consisting of a disk seated in the saidannular groove and thereby interlocking with the sections, said headmemher having a shank formed integral-.y there-

